Pablo Villa


Pablo Villanueva Fernández, known as Villa, is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a forward, and a coach.

Playing career

Born in Alcorcón, Community of Madrid, Villa finished his development with Real Madrid, making his senior debut with the C-team in Segunda División B. Also during the 1996–97 campaign he was promoted to the reserves who competed in Segunda División, his first professional appearance occurring on 2 March 1997 in a 0–2 home loss against UD Las Palmas where he played the full 90 minutes.
Villa spent the following five seasons in the second level, starting out with a loan at Racing de Ferrol. Subsequently, he represented CD Leganés and Córdoba CF, scoring a career-best eight goals in 2004–05 for the latter side but being relegated.
Villa retired in 2010 at the age of 34 after a spell with local amateurs CF Trival Valderas, due to knee problems.

Coaching career

Villa started working as a manager with his last club, being in charge of its youth squads. He signed with AD Alcorcón one year later, in the same capacity.
In June 2012, Villa was appointed manager of Córdoba CF B, replacing Rafael Berges who took the reins of the first team. He finished the season in second place in Tercera División, being ousted in the play-offs by Granada CF B who eventually promoted.
Villa was named coach of Córdoba on 27 June 2013, with the club still in division two. He was relieved of his duties on 9 February of the following year, due to poor results.
Starting in the summer of 2014, Villa worked with compatriot Unai Emery at several teams. His first one was Sevilla FC, followed by Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and Arsenal.

Managerial statistics